| 1788 |
The First Fleet brings cottonseed to Australia |
| 1830 |
First shipment of cotton exported to England, consisting of three bags |
| 1857 |
Small quantities of dryland cotton grown in Queensland |
| 1861-65 |
American Civil War causes American cotton production to fall. Australia attempts to fill the gap |
| 1870's |
Australian cotton production peaks then falls as world prices decline |
| 1926 |
The Queensland Cotton Marketing Board is established. Government subsidy introduced to promote production in central Queensland |
| 1934 |
Cotton production reaches 17,000 bales |
| 1954 |
Cotton industry almost non-existent |
| 1958 |
Keepit Dam is completed on the Namoi River in NSW, providing irrigation water to the Namoi Valley |
| 1960 |
Limited irrigated cotton production commences in south-west Queensland |
| 1961 |
Commercial crop planted at Wee Waa, using water from Keepit Dam |
| 1966 |
Cotton established in the Macquarie Valley following completion of the Burrendong Dam. Cotton production also begins at Bourke |
| 1968 |
Emerald Irrigation Area produces first exportable surplus |
| 1971 |
Raw Cotton Bounty removed at the request of the cotton industry. Cotton production reaches 87,000 bales |
| 1973 |
Cotton production on the Ord River Scheme ceases, mainly due to insect resistance to pesticides |
| 1975 |
Cotton production reaches 110,000 bales |
| 1976 |
Cotton established in Gwydir Valley at Moree using water from the newly constructed Copeton Dam |
| 1977 |
The construction of the Pindari and Glenlyon Dams allows cotton to be grown in the Macintyre Valley in Southern Queensland |
| 1980 |
Cotton production reaches 435,000 bales |
| 1985 |
Cotton production reaches 1.1 million bales |
| 1990 |
Cotton industry self-funds First Environmental Audit, leading to introduction of Best Management Practices (BMP) |
| 1992 |
World record yields in Australia lead to record 2.2 million bale crop |
| 1995 |
Drought causes harvest to fall to 1.5 million bales |
| 1996 |
The first transgenic cotton variety (Ingard®) introduced to Australia |
| 1997 |
Cotton production reaches 2.7 million bales |
| 2000 |
Crop reaches record high of 3.4 million bales |
| 2001 |
World cotton price reaches lowest level in nearly 30 years |
| 2002 |
Roundup Ready® cotton introduced to Australia |
| 2002-2004 |
Worst drought in 100 years results in 60 per cent reduction in crop size |
| 2003 |
Cotton industry undertakes Second Environmental Audit |
| 2003 |
Transgenic Bollgard II® variety introduced to Australia, replacing Ingard® |
| 2005 |
Australian crop sets new world record yield, leading to a 2.9 million bale crop |
| 2005-2006 |
95 per cent of Australia’s cotton growers plant transgenic varieties, accounting for 80 per cent of total cotton crop |
